As families across Ontario prepare to gather for Thanksgiving, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is urging all drivers to pause and reflect before heading out on busy roads. To date, 269 lives have been lost on OPP-patrolled roadways in 2025 – each one a loved one whose absence will be deeply felt this holiday season.

The majority of these fatal incidents were preventable, resulting from poor decisions and careless behaviours behind the wheel. Drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and other road users continue to be impacted by speeding, distracted driving, impairment, fatigue, and failure to use seatbelts or proper child restraints.

This Thanksgiving weekend, the OPP is joining police services across Canada for Operation Impact, a national traffic safety initiative led by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police through its Traffic Safety Committee. The campaign supports Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2025 and focuses on high-risk driving behaviours that contribute to serious collisions.

Operation Impact aligns with the OPP’s Provincial Traffic Safety Strategy, which aims to reduce deaths and injuries on Ontario’s roads, waterways and trails. Officers will be out in full force, targeting unsafe driving practices and promoting responsible road use.

The OPP is calling on every road user to do their part. Let’s work together to ensure no more families are left with an empty seat at the dinner table – not just this weekend, but every day of the year.

Let’s make this Thanksgiving about more than just coming together. Let’s make it about arriving safely.

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Turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie have long been staples of the Thanksgiving table. But as more Canadians embrace plant-based lifestyles, the barbecue has become a secret tool for making Thanksgiving inclusive.

From smoky vegetables to hearty plant-based main courses, families are discovering new ways to bring everyone to the table – without vegetarians feeling left out or stuck with just side dishes.

“Few things bring people together quite like barbecue and Thanksgiving,” says Garry Scott, Vice President of Marketing at Napoleon. “When the barbecue is filled with options for everyone, you’re serving memories that bring people together.”

Napoleon suggests the following menu items to ensure vegetarians feel included this holiday:

• Main Course – Tofu is a versatile protein that makes a fantastic centerpiece for a plant-based Thanksgiving. Its firm texture holds up beautifully on the barbecue, and when seasoned well, it takes on rich, smoky notes that make it every bit as satisfying as a traditional main.
• Sides – Vegetables come alive on the barbecue. Wrap whole or sliced potatoes in foil and roast them over indirect heat, or barbecue sweet potato slices directly for a smoky caramelized flavour. Skewer mushrooms, zucchini, peppers and onions tossed in oil and vinegar, then cook over medium heat until tender with crisp edges. Even quick-cooking vegetables like asparagus or cherry tomatoes develop amazing char and aroma when touched by the barbecue’s flame.
• Grains – Grains can pick up barbecue flavour too. Toast quinoa or couscous in a barbecue-safe pan for a lightly smoky nuttiness, or barbecue corn on the cob and mix it into rice or grain salads. The barbecue transforms ordinary grains into a warm, flavourful complement that echoes the barbecue theme across the entire meal.
• Desserts: Barbecued fruit is the perfect way to finish a barbecue. Peaches, nectarines, plums, pineapple and apple caramelize beautifully on the barbecue. Serve them with coconut – or rice-based frozen desserts for a refreshing and memorable finale.

“Plant-based dishes don’t have to be an afterthought,” says Scott. “With a few creative touches on the barbecue, everyone – meat-eaters and vegetarians alike – can enjoy a full, delicious Thanksgiving feast.”

For more information, please visit Napoleon | Recipes. Follow Napoleon on Twitter @NapoleonProduct, Instagram @napoleonproducts, Pinterest @NapoleonProducts and Like it Facebook.

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As the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) prepares for busy highways and roads during the Thanksgiving long weekend, they note that 296 people will not have the option to join family and friends this year.

This figure represents the number of people killed in collisions on OPP-patrolled roads so far this year. The vast majority of the road incidents that have tragically ended the lives of drivers, passengers, pedestrians and other road users were preventable and attributed to poor and careless actions and behaviors.

Deaths linked to driver inattention are up 40 per cent over this time last year, with speeding, impaired driving and seatbelt non-compliance among other factors contributing to the preventable loss of life in 2024.

Cyclists and pedestrians have been particularly at risk this year, with fatalities in these two road user classes up 100 per cent and 82 per cent respectively over this time last year. Motorcyclist deaths are also up significantly, marking a 41 per cent increase.

In its latest efforts to reduce the number of deaths and injuries on roads, the OPP is joining police services across Canada this weekend for Operation Impact. During the annual traffic safety campaign, officers will collectively target motorists who speed, drive distracted, impaired or fatigued, as well as drivers/passengers who are not buckled up or do not have children/toddlers safely restrained in appropriate child car/booster seats.

The motoring public is reminded that keeping roads safe is a shared responsibility and that every citizen has the right to make it to and from their destination safely.

The OPP is counting on every road user to do their part to help ensure no more families are left with an empty seat at the dinner table – not just during the Thanksgiving weekend, but throughout the year.

Operation Impact is led by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police under the leadership of its Traffic Safety Committee, in support of Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2025.

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Every day, the CBSA works hard to protect Canadians, support the economy and ensure the safe and efficient movement of people and goods across the border. In 2023, we welcomed over 86 million travellers and intercepted more than 72,200 kg of prohibited drugs, cannabis, narcotics, and chemicals, representing an increase of close to 30% from 2022.

The CBSA is dedicated to planning and preparing for peak periods, including long weekends and summer months. CBSA monitors traveller volumes and take measures to minimize border wait times at land ports of entry and at international airports, without compromising safety and security.

Here are some tips to help you plan for your trip:

• Check border wait times and expect delays.
  • Early mornings are the best time to cross the border to avoid wait times.
  • The Monday of holiday long weekends tend to be the busiest.
  • Consider an alternative port of entry with shorter wait times or less traffic.
  • Check the port of entry’s hours of operation on the official CBSA Directory of Offices and Services.
  • If you are using a GPS application (such as Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze) to direct you to a port of entry, consider checking different navigation options (such as fastest and shortest routes) to determine the preferred route of travel.
• Have your travel documents handy. This will speed up processing times at the border.
• Be prepared to declare. Declare everything you have with you upon entry into Canada. If arriving by land, you are responsible for everything inside your vehicle.
  • Bringing Poultry products, including turkey: Be sure to review current restrictions on poultry and birds from the United States before bringing these products across the border. Homemade food or leftovers containing poultry cannot be brought into Canada.
• Travelling with children? When travelling with a child who is not your own or for whom you don’t have full legal custody, we recommend you have a consent letter from the parent or legal guardian authorizing you to travel with the child. We are always watching for missing children, and in the absence of the letter, officers may ask additional questions.
• Travelling with pets? Pets must meet specific requirements to enter Canada. Review Importing and travelling with pets before leaving.
  • Will you be going to the U.S. with a dog? As of August 1, 2024, there are updated documentation requirements for all dogs entering the U.S. from Canada. For more information, visit Dogs travelling to the United States.
• Flying into Canada? Use Advance Declaration and make your customs and immigration declaration up to 72 hours in advance of your arrival into Canada at participating airports.
• Entering Canada by boat? You must report to the CBSA without delay. Review reporting requirements for private boaters before making travel plans. If you are the operator of a boat entering Canadian waters with the intent to disembark, you are responsible for reporting your goods on board.
  • Are you towing or transporting a watercraft or any water-related equipment (canoe, paddleboard, etc.) into Canada? If so, these items must be clean, dry, and free of any aquatic invasive plants or species. Learn more: Clean, Drain, Dry and Decontaminate.

Are you bringing any of the following into Canada?

• Food, plant, or animal products: Consult the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) before bringing any food, plant, or animal products into Canada.
• Fireworks: Consult Importing, exporting and transporting fireworks to ensure that the fireworks you are bringing in are authorized.
• Medication: Make sure you understand your responsibilities when travelling with medication.
• Firewood: Firewood from outside of Canada is not permitted as it may contain diseases or invasive insects. Buy local and burn local.
• Goods purchased abroad: If you are a Canadian resident, personal exemptions allow you to bring goods,  including alcohol and tobacco (up to a certain value), back to Canada without paying regular duty and taxes. Make sure you know how much you are bringing back in Canadian dollars and have your receipts readily available for the officer.
• Use the CBSA duty and taxes estimator to help estimate the amounts owed on goods purchased abroad.

Restricted and prohibited goods:

Make sure you review the necessary information before attempting to bring certain items into Canada. If not, you risk having your goods seized or facing fines and prosecution.

• Firearms: Leave them at home. You are encouraged not to travel with firearms. If you choose to do so, be sure to check the rules on importing firearms.
• Weapons: Restricted and prohibited goods include pepper spray, switchblades, and butterfly knives.
• Narcotics: Narcotics such as cocaine and heroin are illegal in Canada.  If you are found to be in possession of illegal drugs (on your person, in your vehicle, or in your luggage) you will be arrested and may be charged. The drugs will be seized.
• Cannabis: Don’t bring it in. Don’t take it out. While cannabis is legal in Canada, bringing it across the border in any form, including oils containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD), without a permit or exemption authorized by Health Canada is a serious criminal offence subject to arrest and prosecution. A medical prescription from a doctor does not count as Health Canada authorization.

Not sure? Ask a CBSA officer. The best way to save time is to be open and honest with the border services officer. If you are not sure about what to declare, don’t hesitate to ask!

For more information, visit the CBSA website or call them at 1-800-461-9999.

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Nothing says Thanksgiving like a delicious turkey, even in the great outdoors! Here’s a simple campfire recipe that’s perfect for creating a holiday feast right at your campsite.

Make the Herb Rub:

Mix oil, butter, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper.
Rub all over the turkey.

Wrap and Rest:

Wrap tightly in foil. Let it sit for 30-60 mins.

Prepare Campfire:

Set up a grill grate over medium-high heat.

Cook the Turkey:

Place wrapped turkey on the grate.
Cook for 2.5-3 hrs, turning occasionally.
Check for 165°F internal temp.
Unwrap in the last 20-30 mins. Brush with butter, roast directly over flames.
Let rest 15 mins, carve, and serve with campfire sides

Enjoy a Cozy Thanksgiving Feast by the Campfire!

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Over and above the tragic and preventable loss of life, thousands of drivers posed a threat to the safety of road users throughout the province, with the OPP laying 7,953 charges during the national traffic enforcement initiative.

Speeding was the most prevalent traffic violation, with 4,829 speeding charges and 86 stunt driving/racing charges laid. Drivers (and some passengers) were fined for 283 seatbelt offences. One hundred and thirty one (131) impaired driving and 60 distracted driving charges were among the serious offences for which drivers were held to account over the four-day campaign.

Motorists are reminded that traffic laws are designed to prevent collisions, injuries and fatalities and that they are only effective if drivers comply with them.

The OPP is committed its Provincial Traffic Safety Strategy and its overall goal of saving lives on roads, waterways and trails.

Operation Impact is led by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, in support of Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2025.

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The selections in Canada Cooks: A Club House 140^th Celebration were chosen from almost 500 recipe submissions that celebrate Canadian culinary traditions, connecting generations and communities across cultures from coast to coast to coast. Eight winners were honoured with a cash prize of $500 each.

Many Canadian families share recipes; 64 per cent have at least one Thanksgiving recipe that has been passed down from family members and 73 per cent hope to share recipes with relatives in the future, according to a survey commissioned by Club House*. Popular dishes to pass down vary by region:

• Ontarian side dish: 67 per cent of Ontarians say this type of dish is passed down the most.
• Atlantic gravy: 62 per cent of Canadians in Atlantic provinces say they pass down sauce recipes.
• Prairie desserts: 63 per cent of people from Manitoba and Saskatchewan pass down desserts.

“The recipes in Canada Cooks: A Club House 140^th Celebration represent the rich heritage passed down through Canadian families and we’re thrilled to share it with the entire country this Thanksgiving,” said Trevor Squires, Country Manager, McCormick & Company, Canada. “It is an honour to have been part of Canadian kitchens for 140 years. We hope to continue be a key ingredient for generations to come.”

Pay Chen, Canadian television host and Club House spokesperson, joined the anniversary celebration and shared her own Thanksgiving recipe, Taiwanese-Inspired Sticky Rice, for inclusion in the cookbook. Pay said, “I’m excited to collaborate on Canada Cooks and share a recipe that my family enjoys during the holidays, representing the diversity of Canadian celebrations and cultures this time of year.”

To further celebrate the joy of Thanksgiving, Club House will be donating 6,000** meals to Food Banks Canada. Club House has been in partnership with Food Banks Canada since 2015 to addresses food insecurity in Canada. This partnership supports Food Banks Canada along with over 4,750 food banks and community organizations working towards a Canada where no one goes hungry.

The Canada Cooks: A Club House 140^th Celebration cookbook is available online here. Fans can share their own Thanksgiving favourites across social by searching @ClubHouseCanada and #ClubHouse140.

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Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is urging the public to prioritize safety around waterways during the Thanksgiving weekend.

Recent unseasonably warm weather may make waterways more tempting, but please ensure you are aware and vigilant about the potential dangers. Dry or calm riverbeds around OPG facilities like dams, may look safe but can change quickly into rapidly flowing waterways with dangerous currents.

For more information about water safety, please visit: www.opg.com/watersafety.

• OPG operates 66 hydroelectric stations and 240 dams on 24 Ontario River systems.
• Despite continued warnings, some people disregard our signs and barriers, putting themselves and first responders at risk.
• OPG works with Ontario Provincial Police to enforce these warnings, which could lead to charges.

“Thanksgiving is a great time to get together with family and spend time outdoors,” said Paul Seguin, OPG Senior Vice President, Renewable Generation. “As you gather this weekend, make sure you and your loved ones are staying safe around Ontario’s waterways.”

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